Device for warning and protection

ABSTRACT

The device (A) is for warning at physical contact of a vehicle with an object in its surrounding and protection of the vehicle at such a contact. The device has a detecting unit ( 1 ) and a warning unit ( 2 ), where the detecting unit ( 1 ) is adapted to be attached to a surface (B) and detect a contact of a vehicle with the detecting unit ( 1 ), and where the warning unit ( 2 ) is adapted to warn a driver of the vehicle of the detection. The detecting unit ( 1 ) consists of a force absorbing plate ( 11 ), and an inside the plate ( 11 ) acting contact devise ( 12 ). A first side ( 11   a ) of the plate ( 11 ) is adapted to be attached to the surface (B). The plate ( 11 ) is given an elasticity adapted to absorb part of the forces that can occur at a contact of a vehicle. The contact device ( 12 ) is adapted to close an electric circuit ( 13 ) at the contact, and the warning unit ( 2 ) is adapted to emit a visual signal and/or an acoustic signal when the electric circuit ( 13 ) is closed.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention consists of a device for warning for physicalcontact of vehicles with solid objects in its surrounding, as walls,pillars etc., and protection of the vehicle in case of contact,comprising a detecting unit and a warning unit. The detecting unit isadapted to be attached to a surface and detect a contact of a vehiclewith the detecting unit, and the warning unit is adapted to warn adriver of said vehicle at said detection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART

Different means of aid for handling vehicles in narrow spaces arepreviously known. Those can somewhat simplified be called run-intowarning devices and with this should be understood that they are adaptedto situations where a vehicle manoeuvres in narrow spaces with a verylow speed in connection with e.g. parking, backing up to loading docksetc. There exists in connection with traffic also run-into protectionsthat are adapted to catch vehicles at high speed to minimize damage inconnection with accidents. It shall be understood that the invention athand is of the first sort of run-into warning devices and that run-intomeans vehicles running into objects at low speed.

This type of run-into warning devices can be divided into differentcategories.

There exist different devices adapted to help visually in connectionwith parking.

Publication US 2002/0041239 shows a system where a display shows theposition of the vehicle in relation to the space that shall be used forparking.

Publication DE 201 11 974 shows an arrangement of mirrors that providesthe driver of a vehicle with a view of the distance between the vehicleand a wall that the vehicle approaches.

There exist also several active distance-warning devices. Those areadapted to measure the distance from a vehicle to surrounding objectsand actively warn the driver when the vehicle comes to close to someobject. Those types of systems are shown among others in thepublications U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,887, U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,586, DE 100 12788, WO 92/18879 and FR 2 452 721.

There are also a number of known systems based on to physicallyconstitute an obstacle for the tire of a vehicle, where the driver feelsthis obstacle and stops the vehicle before the driver runs into anobject. Those types of systems are shown among others in thepublications U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,994, DE 297 19 117, JP 2001-262857 andGB 2 361 752.

There are also systems building on that a device in some way detects arunning-into and shows a warning signal to the driver. All of them areadapted to running into them straight from the front, this means in thelast phase of a parking e.g. when the driver wants to come as close aspossible to a wall with the vehicle. Those types of systems are shown inthe publications DE 196 04 963, U.S. Pat. No. 3,261,321, EP 0 014 726,DE 28 44 428, WO 99/27510, U.S. Pat. No. 3,621,807, U.S. Pat. No.3,977,354 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,065.

There are also a number of publications that show how a vehicle isprotected mechanically in a garage, those publications show differentelastic resistances that are placed in a garage to protect a vehiclewhen running-into it. Examples of such publications are U.S. Pat. No.1,496,626, FR 2 773 376, DE 299 16 563 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,853.

Finally it is also known to use devices that are adapted to avoid damageof a vehicle at a run-into and at the same time warn the driver.

The publication DE 28 45 683 shows an air-filled rubber cushion wherethe air in the cushion is pressed out through a whistle when the cushionis subject to compression.

The publication U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,484 shows a device that is adaptedto be put around pillars and poles, where an external casing can rotateat a running-into it and where a sound is generated at the rotation ofthe external casing.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Problems

Starting with a device for warning at physical contact of vehicles withsolid objects in the surrounding and protection of the vehicle at suchcontact, consisting of a detecting unit and a warning unit, where thedetecting unit is adapted to be attached to a surface and detect acontact of a vehicle with the detecting unit, and where the warning unitis adapted to warn a driver of the vehicle at the detection, is it atechnical problem to provide a device that easily can be attached todifferent surfaces, flat as well as e.g. cylindrical surfaces orcorners.

It is a technical problem to provide a device that as well warns thedriver as protects the vehicle that is running into an object.

It is further on a problem to be able to provide a device that warn notonly if the running-into occurs straight from the front against thesurface on which the device is attached but also a running-into wherethe vehicle only touches the device in a direction that is almostparallel with the surface to which the device is attached.

It is a technical problem to be able to provide a device that easily canbe adapted to different sizes and different applications, such as forsmall garages for private cars, parking houses or loading docks forheavy vehicles.

It is a problem to be able to provide a detecting unit that can noticewhere on the detecting unit the contact has occurred and to indicatethis position on the warning unit.

Solution

With the intention to solve one or several of the problems specifiedabove, and with starting-point from a device for warning at physicalcontact of vehicles and protection of the vehicle at such a contact,comprising a detecting unit and a warning unit, where the detecting unitis adapted to be attached to a surface and detect contact with a vehicleagainst the detecting unit, and where the warning unit is adapted towarn the driver of the vehicle at the detection, the present inventionteaches that the detecting unit comprises a force-absorbing plate, and awith this plate cooperating contact device, where a first side of theplate is adapted to be attached to the surface.

With the intention to protect the running-into vehicle the presentinvention indicate that the plate is given an elasticity adapted to beable to absorb a part of the forces that can occur at contact with thevehicle.

Further the present invention shows that the contact device is adaptedto close an electric circuit at the contact, and that the warning unitis adapted to give a visual signal and/or an acoustic signal when theelectric circuit is closed.

According to the present invention the contact device can consist ofdifferent types of electric closed circuits, such as e.g. an elasticmaterial that is isolating at normal pressure and is electricallyconductive when it is exposed to external pressure or a traditionalmechanic contact that is open at normal pressure and closed when exposedto external pressure.

The sensitivity to pressure and elasticity of the detecting unit makesthat it also easily can detect a contact of a vehicle that runs into thedetecting unit in a direction that is almost parallel with the surfaceon which the detecting unit is attached, and this without the on-runningvehicle being damaged by the contact with the detecting unit.

With the intention not only to be able to indicate that a contact hasoccurred against a detecting unit but also to point out where on thedetecting unit the contact has taken place the present invention teachesthat the detecting unit comprises several cooperating contact devicesand that those contact devices are positioned in a pattern, such as in arow, or several rows or columns, where the contact devices areelectrically connected to different electrical circuits in a way thatmakes it possible to detect which one of the contact devices that closesan electrical circuit, where the warning unit is adapted to show whereon the detecting unit a physical contact has taken place.

With the intention to provide a detecting unit that can be attached toothers than flat surfaces the present invention shows that the plate andall or parts of it are provided with one or more notches, placed towardsthe first side, whereby the detecting unit is adapted to be bent aroundand attached to not flat surfaces, such as pillars, poles or corners.

It is also possible to make the plat bendable, so that the detectingunit is adapted to be attached to not flat surfaces, such as pillars,poles or corners.

It is further on possible to make the plate in the shape of an angle,whereby the detecting unit is adjusted to be attached around a corner.

With the intention to protect the running-into vehicle the presentinvention teaches that the total elasticity of the detecting unit isadapted to be able to absorb a part of the forces that can occur at thecontact of a vehicle, and that the warning unit is adapted to give awarning signal at such a contact, in a way so that the driver of thevehicle can observe the warning signal before the forces have a damaginginfluence on the vehicle.

According to the present invention the warning unit may stand inelectrical connection with the detecting unit. But there is nothing thatprevents that the warning unit stands in wireless connection with thedetecting unit hereby making the device more adaptable to differentsituations. It is e.g. then possible to let the warning device be placedinside a vehicle.

Advantages

The most important advantages connected with the present invention isthat a devise according to the invention is simple and inexpensive toproduce, it is simple to place in different environments, it can beattached to plane surfaces as well as to pillars, poles, corners orother non-flat surfaces, and it can be adapted to light private cars aswell as to heavier vehicles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A device according to the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically and very simplified shows a device according to thepresent invention,

FIG. 2 schematically shows a first embodiment of a contact device,

FIG. 3 schematically shows a second embodiment of a contact device,

FIGS. 4 a and b schematically shows different contact bodies in acontact device aiming to giving a contact device springy or elasticproperties,

FIG. 5 schematically shows a detecting unit with a number of cooperatingcontact devices,

FIG. 6 schematically shows a detecting unit adapted to be attached torounded surfaces, such as pillars or poles,

FIG. 7 schematically shows a detecting unit adapted to be attachedaround a corner, and

FIG. 8 schematically shows a device with a wireless communicationbetween the detecting unit and the warning unit.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS AS PRESENTLY PREFERRED

With reference to FIG. 1 is here showed schematically a device A forwarning at physical contact of vehicles with solid objects in theenvironment and protection of the vehicle at such contact.

The device A comprises a detecting unit 1 and a warning unit 2, wherethe detecting unit 1 is adapted to be attached to a surface B and detecta contact of a vehicle against the detecting unit 1, and where thewarning unit 2 is adapted to warn a driver of the vehicle at thisdetection.

The present invention teaches that the detecting unit 1 comprises aforce absorbing plate 11, and a with the plate cooperating contactdevice 12.

A first side 11 a of the plate 11 is adapted to be attached to a surfaceB, such as a wall in a garage. The plate 11 is given an elasticityadapted to be able to absorb a part of the forces that can occur at acontact with a vehicle.

The contact device 12 is shown in the figure as being enclosed by theplate 11. It must however be understood that that the contact devicealso can be placed outside the plate or between the plate and thesurface to which the plate is attached.

The contact device 12 is adapted to close an electric circuit 13 at acontact, and the warning unit 2 is adapted to give a visual signaland/or an acoustic signal when the electric circuit 13 is closed. Itshall be understood that the electrical circuit 13 not in itself must bethe circuit that powers the warning unit 2 but that it only needs to bethe circuit that indicates that the detecting device 1 has been subjectto a contact.

It is possible to use different types of contact devices. According to apreferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2 comprises the contact device anexternal contact surface 12 a, an internal contact surface 12 b, and abetween those contact surfaces placed elastic material 12 c that atnormal pressure is electrically isolating and when it is subject toexternal pressure is electrically conductive. In this way a detectingunit with good elastic properties is achieved.

According to one further preferred embodiment that is shown in FIG. 3the contact device 12 comprises an external contact surface 12 a, aninternal contact surface 12 b, and an elastic or springy distance 12 d,which distance is adapted to at normal pressure produce a gap 12 ebetween the external contact surface 12 a and the internal contactsurface 12 b. The distance 12 d is adapted to be compressed when exposedto external pressure, whereby the external contact surface 12 a isbrought to mechanical and electrical connection with the internalcontact surface 12 b. In the case when the contact device 12 iscompletely enclosed by the plate 11 is it normal that the distance 12 dis an integrated part of the plate 11.

FIG. 4 shows that the external or internal contact surface 12 a, 12 bcan be given a contact body 12 f, adapted to give the contact device 12elastic or springy properties also in the situation when the contactdevice 12 is closed.

The present invention indicates that the contact body 12 can be springyor elastically designed. FIG. 4 a shows as an example that the contactbody 12 f can be made of an electrically conducting spring and FIG. 4 bshows a contact body 12 f′ of elastic material, e.g. rubber, with thecontact surface 12 b positioned at the end of the contact body 12 f′.

FIG. 5 is made to show a preferred embodiment where the detecting unit 1comprises a number of cooperating contact devices 121, 122, 123, 124,125, 126,127. A number of contact bodies 121, 125, 126, 127 can beconnected to each other to a common electric circuit 131. It is alsopossible to let a number of contact devices 121, 122, 123, 124 bepositioned in a pattern, such as in a line, or a number of lines orcolumns, where they are electrically connected to between themselvesdifferent electrical circuits 131, 132, 133, 134 in a way that makes itpossible to detect which of the contact devices that closes an electriccircuit.

In this embodiment the warning unit 2 can be adapted to indicate whereon the detecting device 1 a physical contact occurs by means of e.g.different light-emitting means 21, 22, 23, 24 being placed in thewarning device 2 in a pattern that is according to the positions of thedifferent contact devices 121, 122, 123, 124 in the detecting unit 1,where each light-emitting mean 21, 22, 23, 24 is adapted to give a lightsignal when accordingly placed contact device 121, 122, 123, 124 closesits corresponding electric circuit 131, 132, 133, 134.

FIG. 6 shows that the plate 11′ and all or parts of the distances 12 dare given one or several, against the first side 11 a directed, notches141, 142, 143, which makes it possible to adapt the detecting unit 1 tobe bent around and attached to non-flat surfaces B′, such as pillars,poles or corners.

The present invention shows that the plate can be made bendable, so thatthe detecting unit can be adapted to be attached to non-flat surfaces,such as pillars, poles or corners in the case that a surface onlydiverts a little from a flat surface.

FIG. 7 is meant to show an embodiment where the detecting unit 1 isadapted to be attached around a sharp corner B″ by means of that theplate 11″ is given angular shape.

To be able to supply a mechanical protection to vehicles that at lowspeed comes in contact with an inventive device A shows the presentinvention that the total elasticity of the detecting unit 1 shall beadapted to be able to absorb part of the forces that can occur at acontact with a vehicle, and that the warning unit 2 shall be adapted togive a warning signal at such a contact, in a way so that a driver ofthe vehicle can become aware of the warning signal before the forceshave a damaging influence on the vehicle.

The detecting unit 1 and the warning unit 2 can communicate with eachother by different means. Again referring to FIG. 1 a preferredembodiment is shown where the warning unit 2 stands in electricalconnection with the detecting unit 1. In this case can the electricalcircuit 13 that is closed by the detecting unit 1 also constitute theelectrical circuit that powers the warning unit 2.

According to another preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 8 stands thewarning unit 1″ in wireless connection with the detecting unit 2″, hereschematically shown by radio emitter 15 and warning unit 2 adapted toreceive radio signals via a receiving antenna 25. This embodiment leavesgreat liberty where the warning unit can be placed. E.g. in thisembodiment the warning unit can be placed inside a vehicle.

The present invention is independent of how the electric circuit 13 ispowered. It can however be of advantage to let the electric circuit 13be powered by low-tension current because low-tension current can behandled by a non-professional, hence it follows that everybody canhandle and mount a device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows that the detecting device 11 as an example can be poweredby a battery 13 a or by main voltage through a transformer 16. It isalso possible to let the battery 13 a be emergency power to the mainvoltage 16. It must be understood that the warning unit 11 can bepowered completely separate and independent of the detecting unit 12.

It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to theaforedescribed and illustrated exemplifying embodiments thereof and thatmodifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept asillustrated in the accompanying Claims.

1. A device for warning for physical contact of vehicles and protectionof the vehicle in case of such a contact, comprising: a detecting unitin operative engagement with a warning unit, the detecting unit beingattachable to a surface and adapted to detect a contact of a vehiclewith the detecting unit, the warning unit is adapted to warn a driver ofthe vehicle at the detection, the detecting unit having a forceabsorbing plate, and a contact device that cooperates with the forceabsorbing plate, a first side of the force absorbing plate beingattachable to the surface, the force absorbing plate having anelasticity adopted to absorb forces that occur during the contact, thecontact device being adapted to close an electric circuit at thecontact, the warning unit being adapted to provide a visual signaland/or an acoustic signal when the electric circuit is closed, theelasticity of the detecting unit being adapted to absorb forces thatoccur by the contact, the warning unit being adapted to provide awarning signal at such a contact so that a driver of the vehicle becomesaware of the warning signal before the forces have a damaging influenceon the vehicle.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the contactdevice has an external contact surface, an internal contact surface, andan elastic material is positioned between the contact surfaces, theelastic material is electrically isolating at normal pressure andbecomes electrically conductive at external pressure.
 3. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the contact device has an external contactsurface, an internal contact surface, and an elastic or springy distancedevice, and that the distance device is adapted to, at a normalpressure, keep a distance between the external and internal contactsurfaces, and that the distance device is adapted to be compressed whenthe distance device is subject do external force so that an electricalcontact occurs between the external and internal contact surfaces.
 4. Adevice according to claim 3, wherein the external or internal contactsurfaces are given a contact body adapted to give the contact deviceelastic or springy properties also in a situation when the contactdevice is closed.
 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the contactbody is made of an elastic or springy material, the contact surface issituated at an end of the contact body.
 6. A device according to claim 1wherein the detecting unit is made of a number of cooperating contactdevices.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the contact devicesare connected to a common electrical circuit.
 8. A device according toclaim 6, wherein the contact devices are placed in a pattern, thecontact devices are connected to different electrical circuits in a waythat makes detection possible of which one of the contact devices thatcloses an electrical circuit, and that the warning unit is adapted todisplay on which place on the detecting unit a physical contact occurs.9. A device according to claim 3 wherein the plate and the entire orparts of the distance is given one or more, against the first sidedirected, notches, through which the detecting unit is adapted to bebent around and attached to non-flat surfaces.
 10. A device according toclaim 1 wherein the plate is made bendable so that the detecting unit isattachable to non-plane surfaces.
 11. A device according to claim 1wherein the plate is made in the shape of an angle through which thedetecting unit is adapted to be attached.
 12. A device according toclaim 1 wherein the warning unit stands in electrical connection withthe detecting unit.
 13. A device according to said claim 1 wherein thewarning unit stands in wireless connection with the detecting unit. 14.A device according to claim 13, wherein the warning unit is placedinside a vehicle.
 15. A device according to claim 1 wherein theelectrical circuit is powered by low power current.